Low Cut on My Preamp

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chrisharris

chrisharris

King of Bling
Okay, I've never posted in this forum before, but I have a ridiculously simple question that I'm too stupid to figure out.

I recently purchased a Dual Microphone Pre-Amp (DMP3, from M-Audio), and it seems like a pretty cool little unit. One of the buttons on it is a "Low Cut" switch (75Hz), and the manual says it's good for things like cutting out the noises of boom stands being hit and such.

My question is: How many of you record with that thing engaged? I do a lot of vocal and acoustic work, and I'm always rolling the lows off of the acoustics and my vocal anyway, but I usually just do that for 50Hz and down.

I could (and will, eventually) record a bunch of stuff both with and without that switch engaged, but I was wondering what the pros and cons are if anybody records similarly.

[edit] And while I'm at it, can somebody tell me how I can actually use both channels of the preamp to record into 2 seperate tracks on my computer? The preamp has 2 balanced outs (one for each channel, duh), and my soundcard has 2 inputs, (Line In and Mic In), but I think Windows will only let me select one of the inputs at a time...and yes, I know this question is laughable, so feel free to laugh, I just wanna' learn...LOL

HAVE A GREAT FREAKIN' DAY!!!
Chris
 
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Are they serious? or are they talking about the acoustic phenomenon called "boom"? If you don't knoe what that is, just put a mic close in front of your soundhole. You won't have to listen very hard. Low cut, or "high pass filter", is a feature of some pres and some mics as well, and is used for controlling boom, not boom stands.( as in ka-boom).
Your second question has a simpler, yet uglier answer. Get a DAW, or a sound card with more than one input.-Richie
 
Richard Monroe said:
Are they serious? or are they talking about the acoustic phenomenon called "boom"?
Click to expand...

DIRECT QUOTE FROM THE MANUAL:

"When foot movements, mic stand noise, or other low frequency sounds are unwanted, use the Low-Cut filter to reduce or remove them."

So I think they were serious. The manual didn't use the word "boom," I guess I added that.

I'd still be interested to see who uses that for recording when elephants aren't in the room. :D

As for the other question, I'm thinking I can accomplish the same thing by just using 2 computers, since I have about 12 of them. DAW's are for losers. (kidding, kidding).

Thanks for the response.
 
God that's bogus! And I'd like to know when foot and mic stand noise is "wanted"? (tap dancing?). Bass cut is frequently used on large body acoustic guitar and some vocalists. Like EQ and compression, a bass cut is something I use only when I have to. I use it when running the Fishman Prefix Plus on my Taylor into a preamp.-Richie
 
I use the low cut on vocals and guitars alot. I've yet to record either and think "I need more bass".

To use both channels get a dual mono to stereo plug with the proper jacks for each end. The stereo end goes into the soundcard. Your computer will see the 2 channels as Left and Right or 1 and 2. Assign each side to their own track or just record them as a stereo file and split them up later.
 
Take a Beyer M88 some time and put it on solid metal mic stand on a hardwood stage (without a shock mount). Then you'll see what they were talking about, and why a low cut filter is so valuable. In cases like that, your manual's advice is right on.

It's also really good to eliminate passing trucks, furnace and AC rumble, and to reduce proximity effect.
 
Chris the line in is STEREO. Never use the mic in, use the line in. Just get a Y splitter of some sort and you have a left and right channel with the line in. Mics are mono so there you have 2 channels.

oops, tex beat me to it.
 
IGNORANCE, ROUND 2

Thanks for the tips guys. I now have a new problem...LOL. But it's related.

I took a splitter (2 quarter inch --->one 1/8 in. stereo).

Obviously, I went from the 2 outs of the preamp [channels A and B] with the 1/4 in. jacks, and then to the soundcard with the other end.

I plugged a condensor mic into channel A, and a condensor mic into channel B.

Phantom power is engaged.

Now, when I record, I record one channel L, and the other channel R.

I'm getting a little bit of signal from the right side, and none from the left, that I can tell...And I'm boosting the crap out of both channels.

The preamp works fine when I just come out of ONE output with a stereo 1/4 in adapter to the soundcard. Works on both channels just great.

Anybody????
 
P.S. - I'm pretty sure it has something to do with balancing and grounding and shielding, LOL...but I don't know what these things are really.

FLAME ME!!!
 
If the M-Audio has balanced outs than you need to use balanced cables. It may be that you are using standard 1/4 inch cables instead of TRS balanced cables. This would cause the sound problem you are having.

In fact, depending on your soundcard, you may need balanced to unbalanced connectors on the cable to make it work. What is your soundcard brand?

:cool:
 
yeah, the manual does say that they are "balanced" outs. So what is it I need exactly? And I mean, I'm going to radio shack to get another Y-Splitter, LOL...so you've got one idiot (me) talking to a group of idiots at the store...so the more specific, the better.

The soundcard on this computer is an SBLive. The one on my other computer is a Delta 44. I'd like to be able to use the preamp with both.

Thanks for the quick reply...and the anticipated help.
 
I've never used Radio Shack to get balanced cables. Not sure if they will carry them. I usually pick mine up at either Guitar Center or Best Buy.

I am not sure how bringing this down from balanced to 1/8 inch unbalanced is going to play. May or may not work so save those reciepts.

You need a balanced connector to unbalanced connector cable. A y splitter with two 1/4 inch female jacks going into a 1/8 stereo plug.

Like I said, this may or may not work because of the miniplug. This will definitely work if you have a soundcard with rca stereo jacks as I have done it with the Audiophile 24/96. You would have better luck matching up with the Delta 44.

You won't blow anything up though. Nothing ventured nothing gained.
 
You need two balanced 1/4" males going to one 1/8" male. To my knowlege, the dmp3's outputs can be either balanced or unbalanced.

But your 1/8" side has to be balanced (stereo), so look for one that has two "stripes" (rings).

As far as the lowcut thing goes, unless you're tracking kick drum, bass guitar, earthquakes, or humpback whales . . . please engage it. Thank you. :D
 
The reason I suggested balanced to unbalanced connectors was to try and get it down to the unbalanced miniplug. I was not aware they made balanced mini plugs.

If you can find a balanced mini then chessrock's suggestion is better as you can keep it balanced all the way.
 
1/8" miniplugs are NOT balanced. The stripes that match a "balanced" plug are for left and right channels and ground.

So why not just get a regular old twin-1/4" TS Y-ed to 1/8" stereo miniplug? You're defeating the balancing anyway going thru the miniplug.
 
I think the balanced inserts on the DMP3 require the longer plugs to activate the jack. This is purely guessing on my part however.
Also the 1/4 inch plugs did not work prior.

I wish I could test this for you but I just sold my DMP3.
 
Whoa...LOL. I go away for a few hours, and the thread just SKYROCKETS in popularity.

I really appreciate you guys taking the time to help me out. I was apparently using "unbalanced" 1/4 in. outputs, because the signal is almost non-existent, and there's apparently a -10db drop when using unbalanced outs. (just found that online, not in the manual).

Last question...I swear...but what is the "TS" or "TRS" ya'll keep referring to?

Don't feel compelled to answer...I'm buying about 12 combinations of Y splitters tomorrow; one of them will work. LOL

Thanks again,
Chris
 
Oh yeah...and I'll record the vocals and acoustics with the low cut engaged. Thanks, Chess.
 
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